Can I Choose My Own Physical Therapist on Workers' Comp?

Sometimes, but usually not on your own. In California workers' comp, physical therapy is prescribed by your treating doctor and approved by the claims administrator. If your employer uses a Medical Provider Network (MPN), your therapy usually needs to be with a provider in that network. You can ask your doctor or claims adjuster about a clinic you prefer.

Choosing a Physical Therapist on Workers' Comp

How choice works in California

Your treating doctor comes first. Workers' comp physical therapy starts with a prescription from your treating doctor. California's rule that lets you see a physical therapist without a referral doesn't apply to work injuries.
Medical Provider Networks. Many employers use an MPN, a group of doctors and other providers approved to treat work injuries. If yours does, you can usually choose your treating doctor from that network, and therapy is usually expected to be with a provider in the network too.
Predesignation. If you told your employer in writing, before you were hurt, that you want your own personal doctor to treat a work injury, that doctor may be able to treat you. There are rules for this, and it applies to your doctor, not to a therapy clinic.

The rules depend on your employer, your insurer and your claim. Your claims adjuster is the best person to confirm what applies to you.

How many visits are covered?

California generally limits physical therapy to 24 visits per work injury, unless more are authorized. Rehab after some surgeries can follow different rules. Your doctor's requests for therapy are reviewed before they are approved. When therapy is authorized on an accepted claim, the claims administrator pays for it.

If you want a specific clinic

Ask your adjuster whether your employer uses an MPN, and which therapy clinics are in it.
Ask your treating doctor to send the therapy prescription to the clinic you prefer.
Keep your claim number and your adjuster's name and phone number handy.

When to see a doctor

Get medical care first if you have:

Numbness in the groin or inner thighs, or new trouble controlling your bladder or bowels: get emergency care
A fall or blow to the head, or new weakness, numbness or tingling in an arm or leg
A possible broken bone, or you can't put weight on a leg
Chest pain, shortness of breath, or calf pain and swelling

How physical therapy at ARI can help

Once therapy is prescribed and authorized, a physical therapist helps you rebuild the strength and movement your job needs, and can send progress notes to your doctor or adjuster on request. If your employer uses an MPN, call us at (661) 282-8584 and we'll check whether we can see you within it.

At ARI Physical Therapy in Bakersfield, every visit is one-on-one and in person with a licensed physical therapist, and our clinic director, Deepa Konnur, PT, MPT, OCS, is a board-certified Orthopedic Certified Specialist. We accept most private insurance plans and Medicare, and we have staff who speak Spanish and Hindi.

Read our full guide: Workers' comp physical therapy →